Assessing the toxicity and inflammatory response associated with human health and exposure to nanoplastics

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The impacts of environmental contaminants on human health is a subject of ongoing concern. The emergence of plastics as global pollutants has received considerable attention. The degradation of plastic waste into smaller micro- and nanoplastic molecules, as well as their synthesis by various industries, has led to widespread distribution of these particles and their accumulation in aquatic wildlife species. The presence of these nano-sized particles in food, drinking water and in the atmosphere indicates that human exposure is inevitable, yet few studies have examined the effects of nanoplastics on human health. While the mechanisms by which environmental factors impact human health vary, dysregulated inflammation represents a common mechanism associated with multiple environmental factors. Such effects can result in, or exacerbate, pathological conditions leading to immune dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, and infertility. To address the effects of nanoplastics on inflammation and human health, we will assess the effects of nanoplastics on these different physiological systems in order to provide both comprehensive and essential information required to predict the risk of nanoplastics to human health. The proposed multidisciplinary approach will serve to generate Adverse Outcome Pathways that will enable the prediction of hazards for risk assessment, to identify data/testing gaps, and to formulate hypotheses regarding the modes of action of nanoplastics.